PhD in Developmental and Child Psychology (PhD)

Tuition is All full-time Ph.D. students receive a multi-year funding package that includes tuition coverage, a stipend, and health insurance..

This programme is designed for students with a background in psychology, education, or a related field who seek advanced training in developmental and educational processes. It focuses on understanding cognitive, emotional, and social development across the lifespan through empirical research. Students work closely with faculty on projects that address real-world challenges in learning and development. The programme emphasizes the application of psychological principles to educational settings and policy.

Focus areas include Developmental psychology, Educational psychology, Cognitive development, Social-emotional learning, Research methods in psychology, Learning and instruction.

The programme requires a total of 90 credits, including coursework, research training, and a dissertation. Students complete core courses, advanced seminars, and a dissertation based on original research.

Graduates pursue academic and research careers in universities, research institutions, and educational policy organizations.

Applicants must hold a master's degree in psychology, education, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Required materials include transcripts, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. A GRE score is not required.

The programme totals about 90 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, typically completed in five to six years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 16% of applicants.

Boston College’s academic work addresses practical problems with broader human consequences. Economists Tayfun Sönmez and Utku Ünver developed a donor exchange system that supported the largest liver transplant exchange in history at Turkey’s İnönü University. Chemistry research led by Dunwei Wang focuses on using the field to make the world better, while engineering students have worked with a Maine goat farm on a feeding solution. These examples sit within nine schools and colleges, including four undergraduate divisions covering arts and sciences, education and human development, management, and nursing.

Jesuit and Catholic identity remains central to the Boston College experience. Formative education extends beyond classroom performance to intellectual, social, and spiritual growth, with attention to contributions to the wider community. Community service is part of student life, with 71 percent of students participating in service or volunteer work during their time at BC. The institution’s mission also connects research with people and issues on a global scale.

The campus is in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, at 140 Commonwealth Avenue. Students encounter spaces including Gasson Hall, Bapst Library, John T. Hayden Hall, McElroy Commons Dining, and Stokes Lawn, alongside activities in arts, culture, music, theatre, and football. BC has 9,677 undergraduate students representing all 50 states and 81 countries. International students join a broad community while engaging with a university whose academic and campus life includes service, research, and religious formation.